Girl Scouts–Arizona Cactus-Pine Council (GSACPC) was recently awarded $2.8 million from philanthropist MacKenzie Scott as a part of her $84.5 million donation to Girl Scouts of the USA (GSUSA) and 29 local councils. 

CEOs Mary Mitchell and Christina Spicer with Board Chair Lupe Carmago and Girl Scouts at Parsons Leadership Center for Girls and Women

As the largest donation from a single individual in the national organization’s history, this gift will fund rebound growth opportunities following the impact of COVID-19, build upon GSUSA’s vision to empower all Girl Scouts and its 700,000+ volunteers as they pursue their dreams, and accelerate movement-wide initiatives that give girls the tools to become the next generation of powerful female leaders. 

The local donation to GSACPC will support Girl Scout programs across central and northern Arizona, which serve over 11,000 girls grades K-12 in more than 90 communities, including the Navajo Nation. 

“We are extremely grateful to MacKenzie Scott for her generous investment in girls,” says GSACPC co-CEO Mary Mitchell. “Her gift intentionally acknowledges the needs of girls and women whose causes are traditionally underrepresented due to disparities in giving. With the challenges facing girls today, investing in their futures is critical. Her support will expand our local programming to help girls in our community reach their maximum potential.”

The local gift to GSACPC allows the organization to advance its mission by carrying out such efforts:

• Expand access to Girl Scout programming across central and northern Arizona that reflect a girl’s cultural needs and lived experiences. This includes innovation around older girls, a Mobile Building Space to travel across the jurisdiction, and an investment in current delivery models that will help attract and retain girls.
• Create more equitable membership opportunities in communities that have been under-engaged. This includes Diversity Equity Inclusion and Racial Justice initiatives, reimagining the troop experience model to break down accessibility barriers and partnering with families and communities to holistically support the wellbeing and development of all girls. 
• Sustain membership retention and growth by investing in volunteer systems, new models for member support staff, and enhancing council-led support around the cookie program.

“It is an honor to be stewards of this incredible gift as it solidifies how strongly our community recognizes Girl Scouts as the premiere organization serving girls,” says GSACPC co-CEO Christina Spicer. “Every day, we help girls discover their untapped potential and watch them become the leaders our community needs, so when philanthropists like MacKenzie Scott invests in a girl-led future, it changes the world.”

Click here for more information about Girl Scouts-Arizona Cactus-Pine Council.